Prepare for—and Educate Patients About—‘Other’ Seasonal Complaints

Influenza tends to get all the headlines at this time of year, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only seasonal complaint patients are likely to present with at urgent care centers. Frigid temperatures and icy roadways and sidewalks are sending many patients to healthcare providers in multiple settings. Local newspapers in the Davenport, IA area recently noted that nearly 300 people were treated for falls and other weather-related hazards over the space of a couple of weeks—more than 150 at Genesis Medical Center in Davenport, alone. Diagnoses included concussions and fractures, as well as frostbite. Ensure residents in your communities understand the full capabilities you offer. Many may be unaware that they can get x-rays and receive immediate treatment more quickly and less expensively than in the ED.